The economy added 171,000 jobs in October, while the unemployment rate was up slightly at 7.9 percent. In September, the rate was 7.8 percent. POLITICO's Ben White and Patrick Reis have the full story over on the home page.

White House Council of Economic Advisers chairman Alan Krueger said in a statement: "While more work remains to be done, today’s employment report provides further evidence that the U.S. economy is continuing to heal from the wounds inflicted by the worst downturn since the Great Depression. It is critical that we continue the policies that are building an economy that works for the middle class as we dig our way out of the deep hole that was caused by the severe recession that began in December 2007."